The raw number of flu deaths vs. covid deaths is irrelevant. You need to consider the percentage of people who experience severe consequences.
This virus is also scarier than the flu because you can be a carrier without realizing it for a greater period of time.
If we look at this from just Canada, Canadians already face deadly coronaviruses — routinely — with little anxiety or fear.
Influenza A and B are viruses and are actually considered Coronaviruses, just a different strain from COVID-19, SARS and MERS
The flu, short for influenza, causes about 12,200 hospitalizations and 3,500 deaths in Canada each year, according to the Canadian government. Influenza and pneumonia are ranked among the top 10 leading causes of death in Canada. Worldwide, seasonal flu causes an estimated 250,000 to 500,000 deaths annually.
According to data from the Government of Canada, between December 15 and January 4, there were 9,119 reported cases of influenza, between these dates, across Canada, 10 deaths have already been reported as being related to the virus, particularly to the influenza A strain, which is the most common type.
So as you said I will give you these percentages, but I don't quite understand what you mean by severe consequences when i figure death is a pretty severe consequence.
In Canada from the seasonal flu in a 20 day period, 9,119 cases with 10 deaths =.11%
In Canada from COVID-19 in a 66 day period, 51 cases with 0 deaths = .0%
The influenza virus is highly contagious, and anyone who has it can infect people from up to six feet away. However, there are a number of common-sense practices that can help prevent infection.
These include washing your hands or using sanitizer, disinfecting surfaces in your home, and avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth whenever possible.
If you are not in close contact with a person already infected with 2019-nCoV, you aren’t really at risk, health authorities say. While much about the virus and its specific origins are still a mystery, there is nothing yet to suggest it moves about in ways unexpected for a coronavirus. However, if you are around someone who has it, especially when someone doesn’t yet realize they are infected and going about their normal activities, the virus spreads from person to person, likely through coughing, sneezing, touching an infected surface and then your mouth, nose or eyes, or coming into contact with contaminated fecal matter, experts say. That means it is likely just as easily spread as a cold or flu, and how often do we catch one of those?